I was thinking, in the middle of the night, when I was wide awake (as usual lately). I am not able to go to sleep and stay sleeping, even when I'm not constantly interrupted by my dear family. My sleep routine is way out of whack. This ain't good!
Other than the obvious sleeping pills, which I am trying to avoid for many reasons, here are a few other things I think I will try to get myself back in the sleep saddle:
1. No caffeine. I'm going to try this for a week and see if it helps. I can't do coffee anyway, but I love iced tea! Avoiding it was really hard when I was pregnant and it's going to be hard now, but at least I can try. It's something I have control over.
2. Go to the doctor. If they recommend sleeping pills, that's one thing, but there might be other problems to look into that might be causing me to sleep badly.
3. Exercise and stretch. I'm trying hard to do this, even a little bit. It's so tricky when I'm a total zombie to get up the energy, but I think it will help with sleep if I don't do it too late in the evening.
4. Don't check email, Facebook, or anything else online after 7-8pm. Email, especially work email, can really disturb my mind, and Facebook is just plain distracting and meaningless. I could do with a lot less of all that distraction.
5. Cut back on the spicy foods, especially late. I often wake up with my stomach hurting.
6. Take Arli to the doctor about her bad sleeping lately. Maybe they have some suggestions.
7. On the weekends, take a nap when she naps. Or at least rest. I need naps! Naps are good! Dishes and chores really do wait for me. They are loyal friends.
8. Cut down on the stupid TV watching! Pick a show or two to watch and just stick to those. Seriously, a ton of stupid crap goes in my head and I just don't need it there. I need some peaceful thoughts not a bunch of drivel. I could even try a total media blackout once a week and see if that gets me some better sleep. I bet it does.
9. Talk to therapist more about stress reduction. That could be helpful, huh?
10. I could, if I was really brave, try to do some sort of meditation practice again. Kind of a no-brainer how that would help, but it's just a matter of motivation, which is rare when I'm perpetually exhausted!
I'm just making this all up with my infinite (?) wisdom and logic, but it seems to me that I could probably take better care of myself. I'm gonna check into that.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Friday, September 14, 2012
Going With The Gut
I've been getting a lot of questions about sending Arli to toddler classes or preschool. The answer is - I don't know! I don't know about any of these things. I think she's too young for preschool, but should she go to a toddler class? I am of two minds about all this.
One mind says that I need to put some time into thinking about her social development, skill-building and education already. Maybe I am already behind and Arli isn't getting all the opportunities she needs to grow.
The other mind says, does it really matter right now? She is developing exactly on schedule. She walks, runs and climbs. Her motor skills seem right on. She is infinitely curious about the world around her. She gets new words and phrases every day, and is an excellent communicator, I think. When I watch her around other kids, she seems socially well-adjusted. She shares as good as any 22 month old I've seen, she is interested in playing with other kids and interacts pretty well. She also plays very well by herself.
Because I work full time, my time with her is precious. When I am able to be home with her, I want to be with her. We talk and read and play and go for walks and explore and even do chores. I know that kids need to branch out in the world; I totally get that, but what would she get in a toddler class that she doesn't get from her parents, the kids she plays with, and her awesome babysitter? Am I missing something?
I'm going to go with instinct on this one, and enjoy this time with her. I'll keep introducing her to new things and people, and when it's time to go to preschool, we'll work that out.
And because it's been awhile since I posted some cute photos, here is some evidence that Arli is going to be alright...
1. She has been fascinated with books since she could sit up.
2. Now that she can talk too, I find her sitting in her chair just jabbering away reading herself a book. For both her bookworm parents, this is music to our ears.
3. She mostly plays well with others.
4. She can motor like no one's business, and she seems like a pretty happy camper to me!
The time will come when she has plenty of classes and activities. Right now, I think it's ok if she just plays. That's ok, right?
One mind says that I need to put some time into thinking about her social development, skill-building and education already. Maybe I am already behind and Arli isn't getting all the opportunities she needs to grow.
The other mind says, does it really matter right now? She is developing exactly on schedule. She walks, runs and climbs. Her motor skills seem right on. She is infinitely curious about the world around her. She gets new words and phrases every day, and is an excellent communicator, I think. When I watch her around other kids, she seems socially well-adjusted. She shares as good as any 22 month old I've seen, she is interested in playing with other kids and interacts pretty well. She also plays very well by herself.
Because I work full time, my time with her is precious. When I am able to be home with her, I want to be with her. We talk and read and play and go for walks and explore and even do chores. I know that kids need to branch out in the world; I totally get that, but what would she get in a toddler class that she doesn't get from her parents, the kids she plays with, and her awesome babysitter? Am I missing something?
I'm going to go with instinct on this one, and enjoy this time with her. I'll keep introducing her to new things and people, and when it's time to go to preschool, we'll work that out.
And because it's been awhile since I posted some cute photos, here is some evidence that Arli is going to be alright...
1. She has been fascinated with books since she could sit up.
3. She mostly plays well with others.
4. She can motor like no one's business, and she seems like a pretty happy camper to me!
The time will come when she has plenty of classes and activities. Right now, I think it's ok if she just plays. That's ok, right?
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
40
It is downright shocking to reach the age of 40. Honestly, I don't know where the time has gone. I feel like there's been some evolution in the continuum of my life, definitely some lessons learned and some wisdom acquired, but I still feel youthful and fresh on the inside. It just doesn't reconcile logically. How can this be?
How can my life be half, or more than half, over? I certainly don't feel half done, and I don't appreciate the thought that I could die in approximately 40 years or less. Actually, that's kind of abstract. It's not the years or the time that haunts me, it's the fact that my body and mind is already starting to break down a little bit. I can't remember things as well as I used to, I am starting to need glasses, and my body hurts in places it never has before. I don't necessarily want to live until I'm 100. I really only want to live until living becomes unbearable physically, and who knows when that will be?
It could happen soon, and it will happen sooner than I'd prefer. I am seeing my friends' parents start to pass away, my family members and friends getting cancer or other horrifying ailments or even dying. I mean, what the hell?? I always knew these things happened, but I never thought they happened to people I knew! This is unacceptable!
For women, especially, the 40's are supposed to be a time of great liberation. It's a time when we are comfortable with ourselves (supposedly), we are more confident based on our life experience, and much less tolerant of stupid crap. I can see how this could be true. I'm feeling this a little bit. I feel like I really know what's important in my life and what isn't, and that it's taken on a whole new meaning now that I'm "mature".
Also for women, it can be kind of heartbreaking to get into the 40's. Our bodies are officially too old to have babies. If we missed the window to have as many kids as we want, or any kids at all, this time could be a time of mourning. We have menopause coming up soon, and that doesn't look like any picnic. We are no longer viewed as sexy young things, and our stock goes down a little bit in the superficial media view of what is attractive. (That's a blessing in disguise anyway if you ask me. Who has time for that? I know plenty of total supermodel babes who aren't any further in the love department, despite their good genes and beautification efforts. Work with what you got so that you feel good, I say. Is that just the 40-year-old me talking?? Sorry, little tangent there.)
It's just a little scary for people in my generation to think ahead to retirement. What will that look like? Looking at the economy and the completely ridiculous shenanigans that the government continues to cook up to make themselves for comfortable but leaving out the people they are supposed to serve, will we even get to retire before we die? What kind of planning will guarantee security and comfort as an elderly, physically and possibly mentally challenged individual? Do we burden our kids with it? What if we don't have enough or any kids to burden?
These are the thoughts that rattle through my mind now, and I resent it! Can't I just be planning a theme party or playing frisbee in the park or something? I've said before, and I'll say it again because I really do believe it, life is what you make it. I'll use that positive psychology to spin this the right way, as soon as I stop spinning from the shock.
How can my life be half, or more than half, over? I certainly don't feel half done, and I don't appreciate the thought that I could die in approximately 40 years or less. Actually, that's kind of abstract. It's not the years or the time that haunts me, it's the fact that my body and mind is already starting to break down a little bit. I can't remember things as well as I used to, I am starting to need glasses, and my body hurts in places it never has before. I don't necessarily want to live until I'm 100. I really only want to live until living becomes unbearable physically, and who knows when that will be?
It could happen soon, and it will happen sooner than I'd prefer. I am seeing my friends' parents start to pass away, my family members and friends getting cancer or other horrifying ailments or even dying. I mean, what the hell?? I always knew these things happened, but I never thought they happened to people I knew! This is unacceptable!
For women, especially, the 40's are supposed to be a time of great liberation. It's a time when we are comfortable with ourselves (supposedly), we are more confident based on our life experience, and much less tolerant of stupid crap. I can see how this could be true. I'm feeling this a little bit. I feel like I really know what's important in my life and what isn't, and that it's taken on a whole new meaning now that I'm "mature".
Also for women, it can be kind of heartbreaking to get into the 40's. Our bodies are officially too old to have babies. If we missed the window to have as many kids as we want, or any kids at all, this time could be a time of mourning. We have menopause coming up soon, and that doesn't look like any picnic. We are no longer viewed as sexy young things, and our stock goes down a little bit in the superficial media view of what is attractive. (That's a blessing in disguise anyway if you ask me. Who has time for that? I know plenty of total supermodel babes who aren't any further in the love department, despite their good genes and beautification efforts. Work with what you got so that you feel good, I say. Is that just the 40-year-old me talking?? Sorry, little tangent there.)
It's just a little scary for people in my generation to think ahead to retirement. What will that look like? Looking at the economy and the completely ridiculous shenanigans that the government continues to cook up to make themselves for comfortable but leaving out the people they are supposed to serve, will we even get to retire before we die? What kind of planning will guarantee security and comfort as an elderly, physically and possibly mentally challenged individual? Do we burden our kids with it? What if we don't have enough or any kids to burden?
These are the thoughts that rattle through my mind now, and I resent it! Can't I just be planning a theme party or playing frisbee in the park or something? I've said before, and I'll say it again because I really do believe it, life is what you make it. I'll use that positive psychology to spin this the right way, as soon as I stop spinning from the shock.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Head in the Clouds
I have this problem sometimes where my head gets stuck in the clouds. Right now is a good example. I really need to be working on some budgets and schedules and what-not, but I can't get into the spirit of it. I know logically that I have to work to support my family, blah, blah, blah, but I'd much rather be lying in the grass looking up at the sky and pondering existence. When do I get to do that?
I'd have to schedule that into my weekend, I guess, and the weekend is just too packed with catching up on the dishes, necessary errands, and spending quality time with you-know-who. I'm sure she wouldn't mind going to hang out in a grassy field, but she certainly wouldn't just lie there and ponder. I'd be chasing her all over hill and dale, and well, that would be fun, but it's not exactly relaxing.
And, honestly, if I did actually get to lie in the grass, I wouldn't do any pondering. Let's get real. I'd probably just think about all the things I need to get done, be missing my girl, or I'd just fall asleep with my mouth open like a big dork. I guess I'd be better off just scheduling a nap.
On the very rare occasion, I do get to schedule a nap. Yesterday I got up so flippin' early and by 9:30 I was barely keeping one eye open. When Jeff finally rolled out of bed, I mumbled incoherently something about needing to sleep and stumbled into the bedroom. I was in there for over an hour, but I didn't really get much sleep and this is why - I was unknowingly trying to rest during ping-pong practice. We don't actually have a table, so Arli was throwing the ball against the bedroom wall repeatedly. Also we don't have any paddles or a nice quiet ping-pong ball, so she was using her mighty fist to throw a wooden ball. That was loud, and not very restful. My scheduling mistake for sure.
It is Monday and here I am. Nine projects in various stages of development, and none of them relaxing or very forgiving as far as taking time out to ponder. I will push through and get it all done, of course I will. That is my deal with the universe.
Someday, I will just take that time to lie in the grass and ponder. I don't know when, but it will be so delicious when it finally happens.
I'd have to schedule that into my weekend, I guess, and the weekend is just too packed with catching up on the dishes, necessary errands, and spending quality time with you-know-who. I'm sure she wouldn't mind going to hang out in a grassy field, but she certainly wouldn't just lie there and ponder. I'd be chasing her all over hill and dale, and well, that would be fun, but it's not exactly relaxing.
And, honestly, if I did actually get to lie in the grass, I wouldn't do any pondering. Let's get real. I'd probably just think about all the things I need to get done, be missing my girl, or I'd just fall asleep with my mouth open like a big dork. I guess I'd be better off just scheduling a nap.
On the very rare occasion, I do get to schedule a nap. Yesterday I got up so flippin' early and by 9:30 I was barely keeping one eye open. When Jeff finally rolled out of bed, I mumbled incoherently something about needing to sleep and stumbled into the bedroom. I was in there for over an hour, but I didn't really get much sleep and this is why - I was unknowingly trying to rest during ping-pong practice. We don't actually have a table, so Arli was throwing the ball against the bedroom wall repeatedly. Also we don't have any paddles or a nice quiet ping-pong ball, so she was using her mighty fist to throw a wooden ball. That was loud, and not very restful. My scheduling mistake for sure.
It is Monday and here I am. Nine projects in various stages of development, and none of them relaxing or very forgiving as far as taking time out to ponder. I will push through and get it all done, of course I will. That is my deal with the universe.
Someday, I will just take that time to lie in the grass and ponder. I don't know when, but it will be so delicious when it finally happens.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back
The girl has been sleeping like a champ. She's been going to bed by herself at 8 every night and waking up consistently between 7-8am. She's been napping for an hour every day around the noon hour. Very predictable. Things have been good. It's not taking us 1-3 hours of rocking and holding and gently placing her sleeping self in the crib. We read a couple of books, she gets tired and points to her crib, where we lay her down with her eyes open and leave the room. She drifts off to sleep peacefully and we have some sense of progress.
This is liberating! This is how it should be, right? She is evolving! She doesn't sleep 13 or 15 hours a day like some kids, and she still comes into our bed sometimes, but in general we are all ok with this new development. I've even been thinking that this could possibly leave a little time to exercise or talk to my husband in the evening.
Well, until last week when her nap started to go awry. Instead of 12 or even 1, it slipped to more like 2 or 3. Not that great. Her bedtime, though, seemed to still be reasonable and she was sleeping by 8:30.
Today the camel's back broke. I don't know what happened to her, but she would not nap to save her life. Not at the regular time, not at her later time, not in the car after two tries, and not on a long stroller ride. Eventually there was a lot of crying from exhaustion (hers, not mine, although I felt like it), red-rimmed eyes and zombie walking. We thought for sure she'd go to sleep like a bag of rocks, as she usually does when she misses a nap.
Nope. She was chipper and lively after her bath, pointing at everything and chattering like a crazy person with a binky in her mouth. Together we spent about 2 hours trying to hold her until sleepy, and every time we put her in the crib she would scream so intensely we thought she would throw up. We'd pick her back up, and she'd melt into us, relax, and nearly drift off. We tried not to pick her up and just let her cry, but it was like an insane crazy torture nightmare like nothing we had ever seen from her before. What. The. Hell. Is. Going. On?
Does this mean that all of the months of our good habit sleep training is out the window? Are we going to have to go to sleep with her every night again after hours of struggling and frustration? Are we doomed, or is this just an anomoly? Is she just crazy and this is the first symptom, or is she just going through some mysterious toddler hormone thing? Also, WHY is this happening?
This is the hardest part of parenting, I think, so far. The not having any idea WHY something is happening, what did we do to contribute to it, and if it can be fixed. I am told by my encouraging therapist that I practice "positive psychology", so I'm going to try really hard to do that here, as baffled and bummed as I am that this is happening.
I'm going to send up a little prayer that things will be just fine and our little lady will be relaxed, rested, mentally stable and happy in her life, starting real soon. Tomorrow would be great.
This is liberating! This is how it should be, right? She is evolving! She doesn't sleep 13 or 15 hours a day like some kids, and she still comes into our bed sometimes, but in general we are all ok with this new development. I've even been thinking that this could possibly leave a little time to exercise or talk to my husband in the evening.
Well, until last week when her nap started to go awry. Instead of 12 or even 1, it slipped to more like 2 or 3. Not that great. Her bedtime, though, seemed to still be reasonable and she was sleeping by 8:30.
Today the camel's back broke. I don't know what happened to her, but she would not nap to save her life. Not at the regular time, not at her later time, not in the car after two tries, and not on a long stroller ride. Eventually there was a lot of crying from exhaustion (hers, not mine, although I felt like it), red-rimmed eyes and zombie walking. We thought for sure she'd go to sleep like a bag of rocks, as she usually does when she misses a nap.
Nope. She was chipper and lively after her bath, pointing at everything and chattering like a crazy person with a binky in her mouth. Together we spent about 2 hours trying to hold her until sleepy, and every time we put her in the crib she would scream so intensely we thought she would throw up. We'd pick her back up, and she'd melt into us, relax, and nearly drift off. We tried not to pick her up and just let her cry, but it was like an insane crazy torture nightmare like nothing we had ever seen from her before. What. The. Hell. Is. Going. On?
Does this mean that all of the months of our good habit sleep training is out the window? Are we going to have to go to sleep with her every night again after hours of struggling and frustration? Are we doomed, or is this just an anomoly? Is she just crazy and this is the first symptom, or is she just going through some mysterious toddler hormone thing? Also, WHY is this happening?
This is the hardest part of parenting, I think, so far. The not having any idea WHY something is happening, what did we do to contribute to it, and if it can be fixed. I am told by my encouraging therapist that I practice "positive psychology", so I'm going to try really hard to do that here, as baffled and bummed as I am that this is happening.
I'm going to send up a little prayer that things will be just fine and our little lady will be relaxed, rested, mentally stable and happy in her life, starting real soon. Tomorrow would be great.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Enough Already
I don't know about you fine folks, but I often find myself feeling indignant when faced with new demands on my time/resources/money/energy/effort. I honestly feel like I work plenty hard enough, and that I'm giving everything possible that there is to give to all of my obligations.
One thing that my dear husband has recently asked of me is to spend some time each day exercising. 15-20 minutes would be easy to do, he says. It just takes a little effort, he says, and he doesn't know why I won't even try. At first, I was totally outraged at his audacity to ask one more thing of me, when I already take care of most everything in the house, work full time, take care of the child and family obligations, etc. He is a man with actual free time, so of course 15-20 minutes of exercise is easy for him.
I brought this conversation to my therapist because I was so pissed about it. I felt like I needed a little backup or validation or something.
My therapist asked me what I thought of my husband's invitation. Sometimes, he says, people who care about us ask us to do things that can actually be beneficial for us, and did I think that his suggestion could be beneficial?
OF COURSE, was my answer. I know exercising would be great for me on many levels.
Well, do you want to do it?
OF COURSE I do!
I don't think you do, he said, because if you did, you would do it. You have the power to accomplish anything you put your mind to. If you wanted to exercise, you would build it into your day somehow.
He's really not being a hard ass, he is simply stating the truth. It didn't seem like it at first, but he actually was giving me the validation I wanted and steering me away from anger.
Very clever, he is, because now I am thinking about this in a different way. If I put aside all my outrage about what I think my husband meant by this (you are not attractive you need to be better you need to do more I would like you more if you were thinner I am ashamed of you) and realize what he probably did mean (you would have more energy and feel better if you exercised and I want to live with a happier person), I can actually consider the invitation.
There are still only 24 hours in each day. I am still trying to figure out where the 15-20 minutes would come from, but I'm not ruling it out as a possibility. I have the aspiration to develop the motivation to make this a priority because it's actually a pretty good idea all around. I'm still working through the resentment of the request, because you know I don't like to be judged or told what to do, but I think I can let that go too. Things will sure be a lot easier around here when I do, and maybe it will even free up enough energy to do some sit-ups, who knows?
One thing that my dear husband has recently asked of me is to spend some time each day exercising. 15-20 minutes would be easy to do, he says. It just takes a little effort, he says, and he doesn't know why I won't even try. At first, I was totally outraged at his audacity to ask one more thing of me, when I already take care of most everything in the house, work full time, take care of the child and family obligations, etc. He is a man with actual free time, so of course 15-20 minutes of exercise is easy for him.
I brought this conversation to my therapist because I was so pissed about it. I felt like I needed a little backup or validation or something.
My therapist asked me what I thought of my husband's invitation. Sometimes, he says, people who care about us ask us to do things that can actually be beneficial for us, and did I think that his suggestion could be beneficial?
OF COURSE, was my answer. I know exercising would be great for me on many levels.
Well, do you want to do it?
OF COURSE I do!
I don't think you do, he said, because if you did, you would do it. You have the power to accomplish anything you put your mind to. If you wanted to exercise, you would build it into your day somehow.
He's really not being a hard ass, he is simply stating the truth. It didn't seem like it at first, but he actually was giving me the validation I wanted and steering me away from anger.
Very clever, he is, because now I am thinking about this in a different way. If I put aside all my outrage about what I think my husband meant by this (you are not attractive you need to be better you need to do more I would like you more if you were thinner I am ashamed of you) and realize what he probably did mean (you would have more energy and feel better if you exercised and I want to live with a happier person), I can actually consider the invitation.
There are still only 24 hours in each day. I am still trying to figure out where the 15-20 minutes would come from, but I'm not ruling it out as a possibility. I have the aspiration to develop the motivation to make this a priority because it's actually a pretty good idea all around. I'm still working through the resentment of the request, because you know I don't like to be judged or told what to do, but I think I can let that go too. Things will sure be a lot easier around here when I do, and maybe it will even free up enough energy to do some sit-ups, who knows?
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
A Tale of a Traveling Toddler
"This vacation is all about how to adapt." - Jeff
Holy moly, a vacation with a 21 month old person is an adventure. And by adventure, I mean non-stop activity and antics that are anything but relaxing and leisurely. Arli is a good girl, and a pretty good traveler all around, but she is still a very small sensitive person with needs and wants (many, many, immediate and non-negotiable wants).
We were wise enough to get her a seat on the plane between us, and she is surprisingly manageable. She doesn't throw up or scream on take off or landing. She is small enough still that she can move around within the space and doesn't try to escape. She charms everyone around her, either saying "hi" to them or giving them the famous stare down. Either way she is very popular. She doesn't sleep, really, except for on landing. For some reason it makes her pass out every time.
She got to spend a little bit of time with Grandma and Great Aunt Becky, and she ran them around the block a few times. I just let her go because it was 10 minutes that I got to breathe. You can see the look on my mom's face - she was relentless.
We went to my cousin's wedding, but I didn't get to see the ceremony or enjoy the reception because she was especially worked up and restless from all the activity. This photo was taken just before the ceremony started, just before she started squeezing the juice box and spraying it all over the place and screaming in her chair because she was sticky. I spent the rest of the evening chasing her around. (Note to self: toddlers and organized events do not mix.)
Jeff was kind enough to let me get a pedicure while he walked the girl around the mall. Well, he carried her around the mall. He said she wouldn't let her feet touch the ground without serious trouble. If that were me, I would have marched to the car and got the stroller, but he is his own man. The pedicure was great, and afterward, she finally got on her own two feet to do some shopping. She carried the owl purse on her arm the entire time. It was pretty adorable.
We took a couple of drives into the mountains because the only place she would take a nap was in the car. This was a good compromise. We got to talk and enjoy some beautiful sights, and she got some much needed rest. We also took a dip in the hotel pool and went out for pizza. At the end of the three days, our nerves were shot and we were happy to get home. Arli was so happy, in fact, that she passed out cold on landing and all the way through the airport until we got to the car. So unusual for her, but we thought it was pretty great.
I think we will re-think the family vacation, at least for the next couple of years. Maybe we'll stick close to home, or maybe we'll just leave her with the grandparents next time so we can get some peace and quiet. Family time is the best thing in the world, but it shouldn't be so much work!
Holy moly, a vacation with a 21 month old person is an adventure. And by adventure, I mean non-stop activity and antics that are anything but relaxing and leisurely. Arli is a good girl, and a pretty good traveler all around, but she is still a very small sensitive person with needs and wants (many, many, immediate and non-negotiable wants).
We were wise enough to get her a seat on the plane between us, and she is surprisingly manageable. She doesn't throw up or scream on take off or landing. She is small enough still that she can move around within the space and doesn't try to escape. She charms everyone around her, either saying "hi" to them or giving them the famous stare down. Either way she is very popular. She doesn't sleep, really, except for on landing. For some reason it makes her pass out every time.
She got to spend a little bit of time with Grandma and Great Aunt Becky, and she ran them around the block a few times. I just let her go because it was 10 minutes that I got to breathe. You can see the look on my mom's face - she was relentless.
We went to my cousin's wedding, but I didn't get to see the ceremony or enjoy the reception because she was especially worked up and restless from all the activity. This photo was taken just before the ceremony started, just before she started squeezing the juice box and spraying it all over the place and screaming in her chair because she was sticky. I spent the rest of the evening chasing her around. (Note to self: toddlers and organized events do not mix.)
Jeff was kind enough to let me get a pedicure while he walked the girl around the mall. Well, he carried her around the mall. He said she wouldn't let her feet touch the ground without serious trouble. If that were me, I would have marched to the car and got the stroller, but he is his own man. The pedicure was great, and afterward, she finally got on her own two feet to do some shopping. She carried the owl purse on her arm the entire time. It was pretty adorable.
We took a couple of drives into the mountains because the only place she would take a nap was in the car. This was a good compromise. We got to talk and enjoy some beautiful sights, and she got some much needed rest. We also took a dip in the hotel pool and went out for pizza. At the end of the three days, our nerves were shot and we were happy to get home. Arli was so happy, in fact, that she passed out cold on landing and all the way through the airport until we got to the car. So unusual for her, but we thought it was pretty great.
I think we will re-think the family vacation, at least for the next couple of years. Maybe we'll stick close to home, or maybe we'll just leave her with the grandparents next time so we can get some peace and quiet. Family time is the best thing in the world, but it shouldn't be so much work!
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